 "Photo: Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT")
WASHINGTON-Saying the country does not have time for "silliness," President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged focusing on issues including high gas prices and the economy after the White House released his long-form birth certificate.
Obama has been dogged by criticism from Donald Trump and others about his place of birth. The certificate released shows that Obama was born in a Hawaii hospital at 7:24 p.m. on August 4, 1961 making him eligible for the U.S. presidency.
Speaking in the White House briefing room, Obama said he released the document to stop the distraction that the issue of his birthplace was having on policy matters including the budget.
"We are not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers," Obama said, without mentioning names.
"I've got better stuff to do," he said.
Trump, a potential Republican candidate for president, has been questioning Obama's birthplace repeatedly in recent weeks. The business mogul tied former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for second place in a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll of Republican primary voters.
Obama said the country can't solve its big problems if it's distracted by issues like his birth certificate.
"There are a lot of folks out there who are still looking for work. Everybody is still suffering under high gas prices. We're going to have to make a series of very difficult decisions about how we invest in our future, but also get a hold of our deficit and our debt," he said.
Some Republicans agreed with Obama that the issue is a distraction.
"What President Obama should really be releasing is a jobs plan," said Mitt Romney, another possible GOP contender.
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